In 1986, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the new and supposedly 21st century facility known as the Commonwealth Health Center.
My point to our fellow people of the CNMI is that we bestowed honor when we named the old hospital in As Terlaje as “Dr. Torres Hospital.”
Since the new hospital opened, they practically abandoned the old hospital building and later established our first college campus. The name Dr. Torres Hospital no longer exists.
Other buildings named after former village commissioners are the former San Vicente Head Start Center, now abandoned — the Prudencio Cabrera Memorial Building; and in San Antonio, the Fernando M. Benevente Memorial Building, which has not been properly maintained and the name no longer appears on the building.
I’m sure there are other similar facilities and areas in the CNMI. I won’t be surprised if that is also happening on Rota and Tinian.
Why do these things happen? Have we forgotten or do we not care about our forefathers who had worked so hard in their lives to make our CNMI today?
To our leaders, please place honor when honor was placed in the first place.
JOSEPH M. PALACIOS
Dandan, Saipan
